JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Depression is one of the leading global public health problems. Given the considerable demand for mental health services, access to mental health services in China is limited. The advent of telehealth solutions offers a promising avenue for addressing this service gap. Despite the potential, there are currently few studies in China focusing on short-term online mindfulness trainings, with the majority of online studies adhering to traditional eight-week mindfulness training framework. These traditional programs, known for their lengthy and demanding nature, pose challenges for participant persistence, characterized by limitations such as low accessibility and high dropout rates. Even in the minority studies exploring the effect of simplified, short-term online mindfulness trainings, the findings were inconsistent.

Objective:

The aim of this study is to develop an Internet-Based, Self-Guided, Short-Term Mindfulness Training (ISSMT) Program grounded based on the Monitor and Acceptance Theory (MAT) for the reduction of depression.

Methods:

The ISSMT program, which is accessible to the general public, is implemented through an online training platform named “Hi Emotion”. Interested individuals aged 18 years and above were randomized into either the ISSMT group or a waitlist control group. Participants in the ISSMT group received daily reminders for a course lasting between 15 to 20 minutes over a 14-day training period. Measurements, including mindfulness levels and depression symptoms, were collected from all participants at baseline and then weekly for the subsequent three weeks.

Results:

A total of 205 adults participated in a 14-day online intervention. Linear mixed models (LMM) were employed to analyze both per-protocol (PP) and intention-to-treat (ITT) samples. Compared to the waitlist control group, participants in the training group demonstrated increased mindfulness levels (Cohen’s d=0.44 for ITT; Cohen’s d=0.55 for PP) and decreased depressive symptoms (Cohen’s d=0.50 for ITT; Cohen’s d=0.53 for PP). Furthermore, participants expressed high acceptance of this training format with relatively low dropout rate (less than 40%).

Conclusions:

This study provides empirical evidence supporting the feasibility and effectiveness of ISSMT for the Chinese population. It is recommended that ISSMT be considered for integration into psychosocial service systems to enhance mental health outcomes. Clinical Trial: This study has been registered on Open Science Framework (OSF) (Registration DOI:10.17605/OSF.IO/8P4V6).